What is Aloe Vera, and what are its benefits?
Most of us know that aloe vera is amazing for your skin, and many of us have used aloe to help soothe and moisturize sensitive dry skin or relieve the pain from your burning skin after a long day under the sun. But did you know that it’s great for so much more?
Aloe vera is a natural plant extract that, when harvested correctly, can be used for numerous health benefits. There are over 200 species of aloe, but only 4 or 5 with medicinal benefits. The most potent form of medicinal aloe, comes from the Aloe Barbadensis Miller species.
A Bit of History
Known as the Miracle Plant or Silent Healer, aloe vera has played an important part in medicinal history. Records go back as far as 3500BC where herbal remedies were written on papyrus to 2100BC, where medicinal uses of aloe were carved onto a Sumerian stone tablet. Aloe vera has been found in writings of many different cultures during the Greek, Egyptian, and Roman eras. References have also been found in writings from the Indian and Chinese early cultures. Ancient records show that the benefits of Aloe Vera have been known for centuries, with its therapeutic advantages and healing properties surviving for over 4000 years.
Alexander the Great is known to have conquered the island of Socotra in the Indian Ocean during his reign, so that he could benefit from the rich supply of aloe vera for the wounds of his soldiers. Egyptian Queens, Nefertiti and Cleopatra also rated aloe as a beauty therapy.
What Can Aloe Do?
Aloe vera provides over 200 compounds and 75 different natural essential nutrients including vitamins, minerals, amino acids and the very rare natural form of vitamin B12 (one of only 2 vegetable sources available, the other being chlorella). These nutritional and antioxidant properties help prevent injury and promote healing to epithelial tissues.
Aloe is also beneficial to maintaining a healthy and balanced digestive system by penetrating deep into our epithelial cells, aiding in the digestion and absorption of minerals, and assisting in the treatment of diarrhea, constipation, and symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), ulcerated colitis, and Crohn’s disease.
As a skin treatment, aloe can soothe symptoms of sunburn, eczema, acne, insect bites, frostbite and cold sores, to more serious auto immune conditions like psoriasis. It also has anti-aging benefits, by accelerating collagen fibre production, which keeps your skin firm and supple.
Aloe’s anti-microbial, anti-viral, anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties destroy and inhibit the growth of bacteria, fungus and viruses, especially those that cause skin and wound infections. At high concentrations, it can even treat common skin issues like candida, herpes, and athlete’s foot.
After a difficult workout, aloe vera is a great anti-inflammatory, helping to provide healthy cell growth and repair. It’s great for use on muscular pain to reducing symptoms of arthritis. It can even be used to assist asthma suffers in reducing inflammation in the lungs.
Aloe vera has many health benefits, and should be in every medicine cabinet! It’s known to be an adaptogen, which has the ability to act appropriately on the specific problems of the individual using it. It’s all natural, affordable, and has numerous uses. Pick up a bottle of aloe for your fitness bag today!
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Yin Lau
Front Desk Administrator
Innovative Fitness Kitsilano
